Special Redevelopment Counsel Services

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, is actively soliciting Requests for Qualifications (RFQs) from highly qualified legal counsel to provide specialized Special Redevelopment Counsel Services. This comprehensive engagement requires firms or individuals to represent the City in a variety of municipal redevelopment matters, encompassing a deep understanding of Local Redevelopment and Housing Law, land use law, tax abatements, local public contracts, and zoning regulations. The scope of work for the selected counsel includes, but is not limited to, reviewing Contracts of Sale, and drafting essential documents such as Redevelopment Agreements, Financial Agreements, and Escrow Agreements, alongside demonstrating specialized knowledge in municipal bonds. All services will be rendered on an "as-needed" basis, under the direct supervision and guidance of the City’s Office of Corporation Counsel, and may necessitate attending various meetings or providing other specialized legal expertise as required. Prospective legal individuals and firms must possess robust professional, financial, and administrative capabilities to effectively deliver the required legal services. Mandatory qualifications include demonstrated litigation experience across Federal, Superior, Appellate, and Workers’ Compensation courts, coupled with expertise directly relevant to redevelopment and land use. Respondents are required to adhere to various New Jersey state statutes, including N.J.S.A. 10:5-31 et seq. (Affirmative Action), N.J.A.C. 17:27 et seq. (Contract Compliance and Equal Employment Opportunities), N.J.S.A. 52:32-44 (Business Registration of Public Contractors), and N.J.S.A. 52:25-24.2 (Disclosure of Ownership). Additional submission requirements include providing evidence of appropriate federal and state licenses, a detailed description of overall experience in similar legal services, client references (particularly municipal government clients), comprehensive resumes of all key personnel, and declarations of malpractice insurance coverage limits. There are no mandatory pre-bid meetings or site visits specified within this RFQ process. Responses to this Request for Qualifications must be received by the City of East Orange Division of Procurement no later than 12:00 P.M. on December 11, 2019. Submissions must be hand-delivered or mailed to Lisa L. Jackson, Purchasing Agent, located at East Orange City Hall, 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, New Jersey 07018; submissions via facsimile or email will not be accepted. Each RFQ package must be submitted individually in a sealed envelope and should include one original, three (3) copies, and one (1) compact disk (CD) set of all required documents. Essential submission forms comprise a Business Entity Disclosure Certification, a Non-Collusion Affidavit, a Disclosure of Ownership Form, an Insurance Requirement Acknowledgement Form, an EEO/Affirmative Action Compliance Notice, and a New Jersey Business Registration Certificate. For any inquiries or to obtain copies of the RFQ document, interested parties should contact Lisa L. Jackson, Purchasing Agent, at (973) 266-5162. No bid security or performance bonds are explicitly required for the submission of qualifications.